Lifting and lowering mechanism for sonar dome



Dec. 23, 1958 M. CLYNES ETAL LIFTING AND LOWERING MECHANISM FOR SONAR DOME 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 19, 1956 FIG.4

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Dec.'23, 1958 M. CLYNES ETAL 2,865,318

LIFTING AND LOWERING MECHANISM FOR SONAR DOME Filed June 19, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MI N V EN T o R S A? arce/ flyzzes FIG.3 BY f g i A ORNEY Dec. 23, 1958 M. CLYNES ET AL 65,

LIFTING AND LOWERING MECHANISM FOR SONAR DOME Filed June 19, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 3 A oRNEY waited, dtates atent LIFTHNG AWL LQWERING MECHANISM FOR SGNAR DUNE Marcel Clynes, New York, N. Y., and John A. Herbst,

Montville, N. l, assignors to Rogue Electric Manufacturing 30., Paterson, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 1?, H56, Serial No. 592,404

7 'dlaims. (Ci. lid-.5)

This invention relates to mechanisms for moving bodies accurately in a straight line and with a minimum amount of frictional resistance.

When it is desired to move bodies in a given direction with accuracy along a rectilinear path, it is conventional to use various guide arrangements to insure the desired, precise movement. Such guide means, in many cases in troduce objectionable factors. Thus, the environment of the moving mechanism may be such as to adversely affect the operation of the interrelated parts of the guide means and moving means.

Thus, by way of example, where the mechanism for providing the desired motion is in contact with sea water, corrosion and marine growths would soon interfere with the optimum operation of the mechanism, particularly in relation to the necessary guide means for insuring ac curate movements.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved mechanism for producing precise rectilinear motion in the absence of guide means and under conditions wherein frictional resistance is materially reduced.

Another object of this invention is to provide mechanism of the character described which requires a minimum amount of actuating equipment; which is free of binding of parts as the motion occurs; and which involves a minimum amount of moving parts thereby substantially reducing the space and weight requirement for such parts.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved mechanism for producing accurate rectilinear motion and including a pair of linkage arrangements and a single means for actuating one of the linkages in a manner to produce accurately correlated movement of the other linkage.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improved mechainsm of the character described and including a pair of linkage arrangements with means operatively connected to each linkage to actuate the same, the actuating means being of a character permitting synchronized movement of the linkage arrangements.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawings, Fig. l is side elevational view of a mechanism embodying the invention, as applied to a marine installation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the mechanism in its retracted position;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a portion of a mechanism embodying the invention, showing a modification thereof;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the actuating portion of said mechanism;

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, it) designates a lower hull portion of ship; said hull portion being formed ith a sealed chamber generally indicated at if and being open at the bottom thereof. Said chamber 1?. is adapted to receive therein a hollow casing or member generally indicated at 12', the casing being arranged for precise rectilinear movement in a vertical direction between a retracted position within chamber as indicated in Fig. 3, and a projected position, as indicated in Fig 2. In the latter case, a major portion of casing 12 is disposed externally of hull portion 10.

The chamber 11 within hullportion 10 may be of generally rectangular shape, with a top wall 13; side walls 14, 15 and end walls 16, 17; the wall seams being sealed and water tight. The lower, open end of chamber i1 is defined by a peripheral framing member 18.

The casing 12 may be of generally domed or tear drop shape with a top wall 2t]; side walls 21, 22 which converge toward each other at the opposite ends of the casing and have a maximum depth at the midsection thereof, as indicated in Fig. 1. Such a casing may be a sonar dome designed to contain internally thereof various components of a sonar system, not shown; the casing being adapted to be projected, when desired, to a position exteriorly of hull portion it), as indicated in Fig. 2, in which case said sonar system may be operated at opti mum conditions, all in a manner known in the art. When the sonar system is not in operation, the casing or dome 12 may be retracted into chamber 11, as indicated in Fig. 3.

Means is provided for lowering or lifting casing 12 in a precise rectilinear path between the retracted and projected positions thereof relative to chamber 11. Such means comprises a pair of linkage systems interconnecting the movable casing 12 and wall portions of chamber 11. The linkage systems include a pair of horizontally disposed shafts 24, 25' located adjacent top wall 13 of the chamber; the shafts having their axes at right angles to each other. Shaft 24 is located adjacent side wall 14 with one end thereof journaled in a bearing 26 fixed to end wall 16 and the other end journaled in a bearing 26:: depending from top wall 13. The shaft 25 is journaled at the opposite ends thereof in bearings 27, 27a, respectively fixed to side walls 14, 15, adjacent end wall 17.

The linkage systems further include a pair of shafts 28, 29 rotatably mounted on the top wall Zll of casing 12 by means of suitable bearings upstanding from said top Wall. The axis of shaft 28 is parallel to the axis of shaft 24', and similarly, the axis of shaft 29 is parallel to that of shaft 25.

Shafts 24. 23 are interconnected by a pair of lever arms 3% fixed at their upper ends to shaft 24; and a pair of lever arms 3i fixed at their lower ends to shaft 28; the lower ends of arms 30 and the upper ends of arms 31 being pivotaliy mounted on a pivot shaft 32. The arms 33 may be braced in parallel relation by cross members 33 and the arms .31 may be similarly braced by cross members 34; as shown in Fig. 1. Similarly, shafts 25, 29 are interconnected by lever arms 36a; 31a. Lever arms 30a are parallel and cross braced by members 33a; while lever arms 32a are inclined toward each other with bracing arms 34a extending between shaft 29 and pivot shaft 32a.

Means is provided for imparting angular movement to shaft 24 and thereby move the two linkage systems to effect a lifting or lowering action with respect to casing I12. To this end an electric motor 35 is mounted on the top wall 13 exteriorly of chamber 11, the horizontally disposed output shaft thereof being connected to a speed reducing mechanism 36. A vertically disposed output shaft 37 of mechanism 36 is connected to a second speed reducing mechanism 38 through a clutch 39. A vertically disposed, downwardly extending output shaft 41 of mechanism 38 has a worm gear 4-1 fixed to a lower portion theerof and located in a walled recess extending downwardly from casing wall 13 and indicated at 42. Output shaft 49 is journaled at its lower end in a bearing 43 fixed to recess bottom wall 44. passes through an opening in recess Wall 45 with a water tight seal 46 at said opening.

Shaft 24 is disposed to one side of output shaft 40 within recess 42 and is connected thereto by means of a sector gear 47 fixed to shaft 24 adjacent bearing 26 and meshing with worm gear 41 on output shaft 40.

A hand wheel 48 on a shaft 49 may also be coupled V to mechanism 38 through a clutch 50.

in operating the mechanism for effecting the lowering or lifting of casing 12, motor 35 is suitably energized so as to turn shaft 24 in the appropriate direction, thereby actuating the linkage system connected to shaft 24. The movement of the linkage system connected to shaft 24 requires the linkage'system connected to shaft 25 to execute a similar follow up movement, resulting in a precise rectilinear movement of casing 12. The casing 12 may include at the upper end thereof a laterally projecting peripheral flange member 51 which is adapted to seat on framing member 18 when casing 12 is in its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 2. I

Since the linkage system connected to shafts 24, 25 restrict any point in the casing 12 to motion in a plane perpendicular to the axes of said shafts; the motion will be confined to the intersection of such planes, which in the instant case are at right angles to each other. Accordingly, the intersection of such planes is defined as a line perpendicular to the axes of shafts 24, 25, thus producing the desired straight line motion, entirely in the absence of any extraneous guide members.

At the same time, a high degree of accuracy in permanent alignment is achieved, since the axes of the parallel shafts in the respective linkage systems are in proper relation, thereby causing the longitudinal axis of casing 12 to move accurately in the mid-plane of hull 10. Such motion is geometrically determined and is not influenced by the tilting moment of the hydrodynamic pressure applied to the casing. Furthermore, with the clearances between the several shafts of the linkage systems and their respective bearings equal, such clearances will be without effect on the precision of the resultant motion.

Since guides have been eliminated, the hydrodynamic pressure exerted against casing 12, is also carried by the linkage systems, which are entirely adequate to the total load including the even heavier stresses caused by the lifting of said casing.

It will be apparent that in the mechanism herein disclosed, only one of the linkage systems must be positively actuated, the other system positively following the movement of the actuated system, inasmuch as casing 12 provides a rigid connection between shafts 28, 29 of the respective systems. in this manner, the driving gear is simplified, saving space, weight and maintenance, as well as being economical.

In an emergency, shaft 24 may be actuated by means of handwheel 4-8, by declutching motor 35 and connecting said handwheel to mechanism fishy clutch 5t Limit switches, not shown, may be used to control motor 35,.

to halt casing 12 in determined. upper and lower positions thereof during its vertical movement.

Alternative means for actuating the linkage systems is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As indicated in Fig. 5,

shaft 24 may form a part of a hydraulic motor 52 which is suitably fixed to the underside of chamber wall 13. Such a motor, known in the art, comprises a cylindrical 'casing 53 with the shaft 24 extending axially thereof and projecting through the end walls thereof for connection to lever arms 31?. Diametrically opposed vanes 54, 55 extend from shaft 24 to the inner surface of Shaft 24' points above vane 54 and below vane 55, such inlets being interconnected through a conduit 58. Inlets are also provided in casing 53 at points below vane 54 and above vane 55, which inlets are interconnected through a conduit 52. Conduits 58, 59 pass through suitable openings in chamber wall 14 with water tight gaskets at said openings; the conduits leading to a source of hydraulic pressure medium, not shown.

Thus, if pressure medium is supplied through conduit 58 and relieved at conduit 59, the vanes 54, 55 will turn in a counterclockwise direction to provide similar movement to shaft 24. With pressure applied through conduit 59 and relieved at 58, shaft 24 will turn in a clockwise direction.

Shaft 25 may be similarly actuated by a hydraulic motor 52, whereby the load between shafts 24, 25 may be uniformly distributed. Furthermore, in the event of any lag between the actuating motors, the linkage systems insure synchronized movement Without injury to the respective actuating means. Accordingly, the precise rectilinear movement of the casing 12 is maintained at all times.

While the mechanism of the instant invention is shown as being applied to marine installations, by way of example, it is understood that the same may be applied whenever a body is to be moved in a precise rectilinear path in relation to a datum point.

As various changes might be made in the embodiments of the invention herein set forth Without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemed illustrative and not by way of limitation except as set forth in the ap-- pended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. In a'ship hull having a water tight chamber open at the lower end thereof, a sonar dome casing arranged within said chamber for movement between an inoperative position within said chamber to an operative position exteriorly of said chamber, means for movably mounting said casing on wall portions of said chamber, said means comprising a pair of linkage systems having pivotal axes disposed at right angles to the direction of movement of said casing, the pivotal axes of one linkage system being substantially at right angles to the pivotal axes of the other linkage system, and means operatively connected to one linkage system for imparting pivoted movement to the elements of said system whereby the elements of the other linkage system execute similar pivoted movement thereby moving said casing in a precise rectilinear path symmetrically related to the longitudinal extent of said chamber.

2. In a ship hull as in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a hydraulic motor, and further including a second hydraulic motor operatively connected to the other linkage system, said linkage systems being operative to synchronize the operation of said hydraulic motors. l

3. In a ship hull as in claim 1 wherein said one linkage system comprises a shaft extending through a wall portion of said chamber and said last mentionedmeans comprises a motor operatively connected to. the extended shafts, and a pivot shaft interconnecting the free ends of said first and second pairs of lever arms.

5. In a ship hull as in claim 4 wherein the linkage shafts mounted on said casing have their axes located in a common plane and the linkage shafts mounted on the chamber wall portion have their axes located in a common plane.

6. In a ship hull as in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means comprises motor means on the upper surface of a wall portion of said chamber, speed reducing means operatively connected to the output shaft of said motor means, said one linkage system including a shaft having an end portion projecting through a wall portion of said chamber, and gear means connecting said projecting shaft portion and said speed reducing means.

7. In a ship hull as in claim 6 and further including References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 695,717 Gardiner Mar. 18, 1902 1,791,013 Rudolph Feb. 3, 1931 2,519,360 Dow Aug. 22, 1950 2,569,354 Tracy Sept. 25, 1951 Smaltz. et a1. Nov. 19, 1957 

